Bathtub construction



April 29, 1947. F. P. UPHUEs BATH TUB CONSTRUCTION Filed May 15, 1944 2Sheets-Sheet l April 29, 1947. F, p. UPHUES BATH TUB CONSTRUCTION FiledMay l5, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Apr. 29, 1947 oEElcE BATHTUBCONSTRUCTION Frank P. Uphues, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Crane Co.,Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application May 415, 1944,Serial No. 535,703 3V Claims. (Cl. 4-173) This invention relates to bathtubs and th'e like and is more particularly concerned with a bath tubconstruction in which an ornamental prefabricated enclosure unit isprovided for preliminary installation in a bathroom and is formed withan opening therein to receive a bath tub for demountable support andconnection therewith.

In the construction of bathrooms it has heretofore been the practice toprovide bath tubs with an integral enclosing and supporting skirtextending from the upper end of th'e bath tub to the floor on theexposed portion thereof, and with integral flange portions extendingfrom the bath tub for substantially permanent engagement with theadjacent wall structure. This form of construction is commonly known andis referred to as the built-in type of bath tub. It is desirable due toits compact appearance and space saving arrangement,'but it embodiescertain objectionable features which the applicants invention has beendesigned to overcome.` It has heretofore been the practice necessarilytoinstall the built-in type of tub during the early part of theconstruction of a house and to thereby subject the tub to severe abuseand damage during nal construction. In the event this type of tub is sodamaged as to necessitate its removal during construction or thereafter,the expense and labor is relatively very great due to its built-infeatures as referred to. Another disadvantage inherent in this type oftub resides in the frequent formation of cracks between the tub and itsline of connection with the walls of a room due to shrinkage or shiftingof the tub. These and other disadvantages have been overcome inapplicants improved tub construction as hereinafter set forth.

Briefly, this invention comprises a tub enclosure having a top portionformed with an openin'g therein to receive a tub for demountableengagement therein. Flanges extend upwardly from the top portion of theenclosure for engagement with the walls of a room, and a skirt extendsdownwardly from other sides of the top portion and from wall to wall toconceal that portion of the tub remote from the wall. Longitudinally andtransversely disposed frame supports are provided for fixed, built-inengagement with the room structure to engage and support the under sideof the tub and its enclosure member. A suitable sealing engagement isprovided between the periphery of the opening in the enclosure and thetub to prevent leakage therebetween;

An object of this invention is to provide a bath.

tube construction in which a suitable tub enclosure may be built in to abathroom and provided with an opening to receive a bath tub for leak'-proof, detachable engagement therein to permit the ready `installationor removal of the bath tub during construction or thereafter, therebyretaining the advantages of a built-in bath tub construction and alsopermitting the relatively easily marred tub to be readily installed orremoved after construction of th'e bathroom.

Another object of this invention resides in the provision of a bath tubconstruction in which the bath tub enclosure and the bath tub may beformed of dissimilar materials, and the enclosure may be of varioussizes and shapes to suit the selected bathroom dimensions'while the bathtub or basin portion may be formed in'a single size or shape if desired.A furtherY object of this invention resides in the provision of a bathtub construction in which a shrinkage or shifting of the bath tub doesnot cause the formation ofcracks or other damage on the walls of abathroom. l

This invention furthercontemplates in combi- -nation therewith theprovision of novel support'- ing means for a bath tub andits enclosurewhereby th'eir combined weight is distributed over a relatively largesupporting area by forming 'a base for the same consisting essentiallyof lon'- gitudinally and transversely extending supporting' members.` f

The invention embodies otherA novel features, details of constructionan'd arrangement of parts which are hereinafter set forthin thespecications and claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings,forming part thereof, wherein: Y Y Y Fig. 1 is a perspective viewshowing a bath tub construction for enclosure by three walls of a roomand embodying features of this invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinalsectional View taken along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of Fig.1.

p Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing a modined form of bath tubconstruction for built-in engagement with' two walls of a room.

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view showing a further modification ofthis invention in which the supporting ange providedon the tub enclosureis turned upwardly for engagement under a rolled-over rim flange formedon the tub.

Referring now to the drawings for a better 11nderstanding of thisinvention, a bath tub 6 is formed with a bottom 1, walls 8, anda flange9 which extends outwardly from the upper periphery of the walls 8. A tubenclosure I is formed with a top portion or surface I I which' is bentinwardly at `I2 and then parallel with the top portion to provide asupporting flange I3 deiining an opening I4 to receive the tub. A skirtI6 is bent downwardly from the top surface to conceal the lower portionof the tub, and side flanges 1;'1 are bent upwardly'from thet topzsurfface forline engagement with theV wall' sur:- facing material (notshown). The lower end of the skirit may be bent inwardly at I8, ifsired, to provide toe space.

Longitudinally extending supporting members I9 and transverselyextending` members; 2J are. 15J disposed under the bath tub: andthe-elicit4 sure I 0 to support same andpreferably hav-ing,

their upper edges conforming to the outline oi" The end.

the surfaces being engaged thereby. portions 22 of the members I9 and 2|are provided for engagement with thestructural. members oa house, andthe bottom'. edges 23' of: the members cover a relatively large: areato'distribute the-load thereon.

A sealingv gasket 24^formed .ofany suitable material' ispreferablyinterposed between the supportingifiange I.3i and the bathtubange, and asealing material 2liV ismounted in the. cornerdenedbytheienclosure-portionI I2| and the-flange 9. The bathl tub maybe` gripped and iii-ted from its; position in theenclosure member bymeans of the usual drain opening 2J andoverow opening 2l formedthereimFig. 4 showsAa modied form of. this invention im which. theelscirt-y I6-extends( along onefsde. and one end of the; enclosure lil,v theinvention being thus; applied to'tliel corner type. of tub. Several ofthe transversely extendingsupporting membersll in thisviewfA are shnwnin: incomplete outline iny orderito.- avoid. possible confusion. fromintersecting dotted lines. v Y

Fig.. lshowsa further modication of thisY in.- vention in whichaneenclosure member 3| is provided. with an. upturned' supporting flange32 for engagement. under a. rolled-over-fiange` 33 formed oni the bathtub34..

While.. this; invention has. beenshownirr. sev*- eral forms itis obviousto those skilled in theart that itv isnot so limited. but issusceptibleo vari;- -ouschanges and modifications without departing fromthe spirit thereof or the appendedolaims.

lclaim:

i.. The combination with-abathxtub having; a mlledfoverrimportion, of anenclosure member having atopportion to. receive a bath tub, a.vertically/ disposed tub'supporting flange defining-r an opening in saidtop portion, a skirt portion ex'- ltending downwardly from said topportion, and

flanged portions extending upwardly from said top portion and along theside thereof not provided with the skirt portion, oor supported membersdisposed beneath the said bathtub having their upper edges conforming tothe outline of a portion of the exterior surfaces of the bathtub.

2. The combination with a, bath tub having a rolled-over, rimportiornofv an enclosure member having: at` top portion to"n receive abath tub, a vertically disposed tub supporting flange dening an openingin said top portion, a, skirt portion extendingdownwardly from said topportion, flanged portions extending upwardly from said topportionand-.along-:thefsides thereof not provided with theaportion, andlongitudinally and transversely extending, supporting members engagingthe undersides of'the bath tub and said top por- .timrthe saidsupporting members having upper portions for support of the flangedportions of the saidenclosure member extending; upwardly from said.top:por.tion.

3-.. A combined bathtub and enclosuremember therefor, thesaid'enclosure. member having a top. portion to receive the bathtub,avertically disposedY bathtub supporting. flange defining an opening.inthe said. topl portion, a skirt portion extending downwardly from saidtop portion, flanged portions extending upwardly from said ktopportonandalong the sides thereof not provided. with the skirt portion, aframeunderlying thel enclosure: and: portions of thev bathtub, the saidframe.4 comprising cross-connected supporting means` with end projectingportionsfor engagement with a. reomelement, said means supporting. theYunderside and walls of the bathtub and theenclosure.

FRANK P. UPHUES.

REFERENCES CITED The following; references are. ofl record in the fileof thisi patents.

UNITED STATES PATENTS..

French July 20, 1934

